Chrissy Stroop
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social
Cofounder of The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.bsky.social
Senior correspondent for Religion Dispatches
Former weekly columnist for openDemocracy
Ball State (BA) and Stanford (PhD) alum
Pacific Northwest via a long, weird, winding road
Senior correspondent for Religion Dispatches
Former weekly columnist for openDemocracy
Ball State (BA) and Stanford (PhD) alum
Pacific Northwest via a long, weird, winding road
Pinned
Me: I stocked us up on Halloween candy.
Roomie: That’s good, as long as we don’t embezzle it.
Me: Well, um, this one bag “turns out to be” open somehow. I guess we’ll have to inspect every piece
Roomie: By…
Me: Eating them. It’s the only surefire way to protect the children
Roomie: That’s good, as long as we don’t embezzle it.
Me: Well, um, this one bag “turns out to be” open somehow. I guess we’ll have to inspect every piece
Roomie: By…
Me: Eating them. It’s the only surefire way to protect the children
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Looks like ICE is now cracking down on … Native Americans.
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
January 10, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Looks like ICE is now cracking down on … Native Americans.
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
“Our Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.”
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
The tragic death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year old mother fatally shot by ICE, shows that ICE can’t be reformed and must be abolished.
I’ll be introducing the Abolish ICE Act as a step toward justice, accountability, and humanity in our immigration policy.
Time to melt ICE.
I’ll be introducing the Abolish ICE Act as a step toward justice, accountability, and humanity in our immigration policy.
Time to melt ICE.
January 9, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Abolish ICE and prosecute the criminal Trump regime from top to bottom. All Dens SHOULD be able to enthusiastically support those things. Too bad the most powerful and influential of them are still completely useless
NEW: “SHOULD ICE BE ABOLISHED?”
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
January 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Abolish ICE and prosecute the criminal Trump regime from top to bottom. All Dens SHOULD be able to enthusiastically support those things. Too bad the most powerful and influential of them are still completely useless
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
NEW: “SHOULD ICE BE ABOLISHED?”
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
January 9, 2026 at 9:58 PM
NEW: “SHOULD ICE BE ABOLISHED?”
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
We asked Tennessee Dems running for Congress in TN-9 (Pearson & Cohen) and TN-5 (Molder, Torino, Cortese, Neal) if they support abolishing ICE.
Pearson & Cohen were the only ones to say “YES” unequivocally.
Their answers: tnholler.com/2026/01/shou...
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Catch this @religiondispatches.org interview of LDB author Nia Chiaramonte by the intrepid Chrissy Stroop, @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social.
Such a good conversation. Lessons for us all.
You’ll definitely want to check out her book “I Hardly Knew Me”.
religiondispatches.org/the-trees-do...
Such a good conversation. Lessons for us all.
You’ll definitely want to check out her book “I Hardly Knew Me”.
religiondispatches.org/the-trees-do...
'The Trees Don’t Care Who You Are' — From Evangelical to a Transgender Awakening
A week before Christmas—as so many had already begun to tune out the news and focus on holiday plans—the House passed two draconian anti-trans bills fueled by Christian nationalist hatred. So much for...
religiondispatches.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Catch this @religiondispatches.org interview of LDB author Nia Chiaramonte by the intrepid Chrissy Stroop, @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social.
Such a good conversation. Lessons for us all.
You’ll definitely want to check out her book “I Hardly Knew Me”.
religiondispatches.org/the-trees-do...
Such a good conversation. Lessons for us all.
You’ll definitely want to check out her book “I Hardly Knew Me”.
religiondispatches.org/the-trees-do...
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
This week's reprint from Bitch Media is a delightful read from @rjelevi.bsky.social on finding joy in fandom during the darkest days of the early pandemic—timely for the dark times we are living through now.
To Fandom, With Love
Fanfic lets us imagine a better world together.
www.theflytrapmedia.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:11 PM
This week's reprint from Bitch Media is a delightful read from @rjelevi.bsky.social on finding joy in fandom during the darkest days of the early pandemic—timely for the dark times we are living through now.
I was really glad to do this book interview, and you all should check out Nia’s book, I Hardly Knew Me: Following Love, Faith, and Skittles to a Transgender Awakening
www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/i-hard...
www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/i-hard...
January 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I was really glad to do this book interview, and you all should check out Nia’s book, I Hardly Knew Me: Following Love, Faith, and Skittles to a Transgender Awakening
www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/i-hard...
www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/i-hard...
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
It's time to board the Mothership.
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...
Board the Mothership.
YouTube video by Mothership Media LLC
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
i know a lot of games journalists and critics follow me, and you'll notice that mothership.blog already has a "How to pitch" page live, along with a few other pages! so yes, please, go ahead and pitch. i'm so excited to announce this in part to get more of your voices out there.
January 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
i know a lot of games journalists and critics follow me, and you'll notice that mothership.blog already has a "How to pitch" page live, along with a few other pages! so yes, please, go ahead and pitch. i'm so excited to announce this in part to get more of your voices out there.
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Check out The Flytrap's own @nicolefroio.bsky.social in @conversationalist.org, writing about a UBI program for artists in Ireland! Funding the arts is good, actually.
Painting a More Hopeful Future
Why Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts program is just the first step in better supporting the country’s artists.
conversationalist.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Check out The Flytrap's own @nicolefroio.bsky.social in @conversationalist.org, writing about a UBI program for artists in Ireland! Funding the arts is good, actually.
DO IT.
And Europe if you’re Iistening, pass sanctions NOW on Musk, Trump, all Trump cabinet officials and staffers, and everyone in their orbit
And Europe if you’re Iistening, pass sanctions NOW on Musk, Trump, all Trump cabinet officials and staffers, and everyone in their orbit
January 8, 2026 at 10:36 PM
DO IT.
And Europe if you’re Iistening, pass sanctions NOW on Musk, Trump, all Trump cabinet officials and staffers, and everyone in their orbit
And Europe if you’re Iistening, pass sanctions NOW on Musk, Trump, all Trump cabinet officials and staffers, and everyone in their orbit
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
The cherry on top of this outstanding piece is this amazing illustration- zoom in for the goodness
TODAY on @theflytrapmedia.com, and unpaywalled for all, I'm talking about algospeak, cuteification, and the implications of softening language about hard things.
Algospeak Will Be the Unaliving of Me
Maybe we want to bare our teeth.
www.theflytrapmedia.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:40 AM
The cherry on top of this outstanding piece is this amazing illustration- zoom in for the goodness
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
TODAY on @theflytrapmedia.com, and unpaywalled for all, I'm talking about algospeak, cuteification, and the implications of softening language about hard things.
Algospeak Will Be the Unaliving of Me
Maybe we want to bare our teeth.
www.theflytrapmedia.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 PM
TODAY on @theflytrapmedia.com, and unpaywalled for all, I'm talking about algospeak, cuteification, and the implications of softening language about hard things.
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
girl i wrote my signal wrong 😭 it's actually lex_mcmenamin.68! sorry!!!
January 7, 2026 at 3:22 PM
girl i wrote my signal wrong 😭 it's actually lex_mcmenamin.68! sorry!!!
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
~news~: this week I started at The Guardian US @us.theguardian.com as Movement Building reporter, continuing my coverage of protest, repression and resistance against war, LGBTQ rights, policing, labor, and more under Trump.
organizers, advocates—send me your stories! I’m on Signal lex.mcmenamin.68
organizers, advocates—send me your stories! I’m on Signal lex.mcmenamin.68
January 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
~news~: this week I started at The Guardian US @us.theguardian.com as Movement Building reporter, continuing my coverage of protest, repression and resistance against war, LGBTQ rights, policing, labor, and more under Trump.
organizers, advocates—send me your stories! I’m on Signal lex.mcmenamin.68
organizers, advocates—send me your stories! I’m on Signal lex.mcmenamin.68
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
January 7, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
And again, yes, rule 34, I've got my own weird kinks, put boobs on whatever, just... Coexist with people who share many of your values? Please? America is doing terrible things and living here sucks for all marginalized people but please stop lashing out over nothing
January 6, 2026 at 6:50 PM
And again, yes, rule 34, I've got my own weird kinks, put boobs on whatever, just... Coexist with people who share many of your values? Please? America is doing terrible things and living here sucks for all marginalized people but please stop lashing out over nothing
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
We're witnessing people crashing out at scales previously unseen in human history
January 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM
We're witnessing people crashing out at scales previously unseen in human history
Getting back to work and being more online and Jesus tap-dancing drag brunch Christ I think I will continue to limit my engagement on social media--the only outlet for which I have left is this one btw.
Put boobs on cutesy characters if you want. Think that's weird if you want. Coexist.
Fuck
Put boobs on cutesy characters if you want. Think that's weird if you want. Coexist.
Fuck
January 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Getting back to work and being more online and Jesus tap-dancing drag brunch Christ I think I will continue to limit my engagement on social media--the only outlet for which I have left is this one btw.
Put boobs on cutesy characters if you want. Think that's weird if you want. Coexist.
Fuck
Put boobs on cutesy characters if you want. Think that's weird if you want. Coexist.
Fuck
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Like, this is a deeply fucking embarrassing thing to say over someone being nonplussed at a video game mod. Have some goddamn self-respect.
January 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Like, this is a deeply fucking embarrassing thing to say over someone being nonplussed at a video game mod. Have some goddamn self-respect.
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
I think you're right about what he *means*, but I also oppose using the word "Christian" that way. It privileges the term "Christian," basically defining it as "good person."
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social has written about this. Don't know if there's a better link
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social has written about this. Don't know if there's a better link
The 'Fake Christian' Deflection and Contrarian Concern Trolling: How Not to Write about Evangelical Authoritarianism
Over the last couple of weeks, America’s conservative, mostly white evangelicals have once again generated considerable buzz—and deserved criticism—over their authoritarian attitudes and behaviors. Fo...
religiondispatches.org
January 4, 2026 at 10:39 PM
I think you're right about what he *means*, but I also oppose using the word "Christian" that way. It privileges the term "Christian," basically defining it as "good person."
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social has written about this. Don't know if there's a better link
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social has written about this. Don't know if there's a better link
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
My thoughts on how the Christian nationalism framework can be too limiting are relevant
religiondispatches.org/seeking-broa...
religiondispatches.org/good-enough-...
religiondispatches.org/seeking-broa...
religiondispatches.org/good-enough-...
Seeking Broad Appeal to US Christians, 'God & Country: The Rise of Christian Nationalism' Glosses Over Critical Context
I wanted to like God & Country: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, the new Rob Reiner-produced documentary on “the dangerous implications” of Christian nationalism. I wanted to like it in spite of the...
religiondispatches.org
January 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Glad to hear 2026 #VA-01 candidate Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs saying in her Ins and Outs 2026 video, “out with Christian nationalism…in freedom of religion and freedom from religion.” More of this, please, Democrats!
www.youtube.com/shorts/0HEu7...
www.youtube.com/shorts/0HEu7...
Elizabeth for Virginia Ins and Outs 2026
YouTube video by Elizabeth For Virginia
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Glad to hear 2026 #VA-01 candidate Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs saying in her Ins and Outs 2026 video, “out with Christian nationalism…in freedom of religion and freedom from religion.” More of this, please, Democrats!
www.youtube.com/shorts/0HEu7...
www.youtube.com/shorts/0HEu7...
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Anti-intellectualism is a deep vein in US history. Ignorance, has also been associated w/"honesty," "common sense," & "authenticity," qualities completely unrelated to it.
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social Hello. In evangelical dogma, is ignorance considered to bring a person closer to God?
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social Hello. In evangelical dogma, is ignorance considered to bring a person closer to God?
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
December 29, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Anti-intellectualism is a deep vein in US history. Ignorance, has also been associated w/"honesty," "common sense," & "authenticity," qualities completely unrelated to it.
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social Hello. In evangelical dogma, is ignorance considered to bring a person closer to God?
@thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social Hello. In evangelical dogma, is ignorance considered to bring a person closer to God?
Reposted by Chrissy Stroop
Sometimes. There’s this idea of being a “fool for God,” of God laying “the worldly wise” low and raising up ordinary believers to accomplish his will/great things. There’s a major strain of anti-intellectualism even if many would not directly frame it as something akin to “ignorance = holiness”
December 30, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Sometimes. There’s this idea of being a “fool for God,” of God laying “the worldly wise” low and raising up ordinary believers to accomplish his will/great things. There’s a major strain of anti-intellectualism even if many would not directly frame it as something akin to “ignorance = holiness”